The Stranger (Chris Van Allsburg book)

The Stranger is a children's picture book written in 1986 by the American author Chris Van Allsburg. It tells a story of a stranger with no memory of who he is or where he's from. He recuperates in the home of a farmer and his family during the fall season.

Plot summary

One fall day, while Farmer Bailey is riding down the road in his truck, he runs over something---or someone. At first, he thinks he hits a deer, but when he gets out to see what he hit, he finds that he has accidentally run over a man. The man tries to run away, but loses his balance and falls down. Farmer Bailey takes him to his house, where he and his wife, Mrs. Bailey, discover the stranger's inability to talk. The Baileys call a doctor to examine him. Although he's not seriously hurt, he can't remember who he is or where he's from. The doctor advises the Baileys to give the stranger shelter until he's fully recuperated. Within a few weeks, however, the stranger bonds very well with Mr. and Mrs. Bailey and their daughter, Katy. He also does a great job of helping out on the Bailey farm. But while Mr. Bailey enjoys having the stranger as his guest, he also notices how peculiar the weather has been. It still feels like summer on his farm, and the summer warmth makes his pumpkins grow bigger than normal. The stranger too notices this. While he isn't particularly fond of the green trees on the Bailey farm, he likes the trees north of it, which are all red and orange. The next day, when the stranger pulls off a leaf from a tree near the house and blows on it, he sees its actual color change. Thus, he knows it's time for him to leave. Later that evening, he gives the Bailey family a big farewell hug. The Baileys hurry outside to wave their friend goodbye, but he's disappeared. Fall has come and the trees are red and orange. Since his visit, summer on the Bailey farm lasts a week longer and the trees are green. Then, overnight, they change into the brightest trees around. Etched in frost of the farmhouse windows is the old phrase, "See you next fall."

Trivia

Fritz, the bull terrier, does appear in The Stranger. Look closely at the bottom left corner of the picture with the Stranger looking out across the field of sheep to see the trees changing color on the next hill. Fritz is disguised as one of the sheep.